Update from the Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission have also now published our core guidance for candidates and agents here.

They are currently in the process of developing a short guidance note to address the challenges of preparing for a UKPGE while delivering the May 2017 polls. Supporting resources for both (Acting) Returning Officers and candidates and agents are now being finalised and will be made available on a rolling basis.

We expect all resources to be in place by not later than the end of next week.

Expenses

There is no long campaign regulated period.

For any GE candidate who has already declared themselves a candidate, their short campaign regulated period will start on May 3rd.

For any GE candidate who has not yet declared themselves a candidate, their short campaign regulated period cannot start before May 3rd and will begin on the day they sign their nomination papers or publicly declare their candidacy, whichever is sooner.

Any materials promoting GE candidates, which are clearly about the GE and referring solely to GE issues in content, which are distributed during the regulated period for the Mayoral and Local elections, do not need to be included in expense returns for local and Mayoral elections, but any amounts delivered after the start of that candidates GE regulated period but should appear on the Candidate Return for the General Election.